I don't know how Evan felt when he returned from abroad, only to discover that I had lost my memory, or how he felt when he saw me dating another man.
He must have been in more pain than I was.
"You don't have to apologize to me. Your happiness is more important than anything. I thought Cody could make you happy," Evan frowned, "but then that day, I stepped out to get some air by the stairs and realized you weren't happy at all."
"I was too greedy, too selfish. I couldn't let go of you, so I approached you once again."
"I thought if I was careful enough, you wouldn't regain your memories."
Evan's voice was filled with deep self-reproach.
I sighed softly in my heart.
In truth, after so many years, that past, though it lingered like a shadow, had already faded considerably.
Evan's love was too cautious, too afraid of causing me even the slightest pain, but I'm not as fragile as he thinks.
I asked, "Do you regret coming close to me?"
Evan was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Are you willing to fulfill the promise we made before?"
I answered without hesitation, "I am."
Evan's tone was completely serious. Evan's voice was calm. "I don't regret it. I'm sorry, Katie, I'm not as good as you imagined. You've seen this despicable side of me."
He held me even tighter. "You promised me that you would fulfill our agreement. You have no chance to back out now."
There was a hint of obsession and madness in his calm tone.
"I know."
The sixteen-year-old boy had nearly lost his life for our future.
In the book, two years later, twenty-nine-year-old Evan avenged me by driving Cody to a dead end. Not long after, he chose to end his life and was buried next to my grave.
His love was intense and wild, yet also cautious and restrained.
To me, from beginning to end, he was always the boy I fell in love with at sixteen, valuing me above everything else.
This time, I want to write a different ending.
Evan and I went from being a fake couple to becoming a real one.
We watched movies together, went to the beach to watch the sunset, went on dates at amusement parks, and kissed passionately under grand fireworks.
During this time, Cody didn't appear in my life at all.
I thought Cody had finally given up, but later, I learned from Evan that he had tripped up Cody's company.
Cody was so overwhelmed dealing with his company's issues that he had no time to bother me anymore.
The next time we met was at a charity gala.
Cody had lost his former confidence and was drinking alone, one glass after another.
Elsa tried to stop him, but he told her to leave him alone.
Later, when I came out of the restroom, I ran into Cody.
Cody was leaning against the wall, his body slightly hunched, his face pale, and cold sweat on his forehead, as if he was struggling to suppress his pain.
When he saw me looking, his eyes reddened as he said to me, "Katie, my stomach hurts."
I looked down and softly replied, "Why are you telling me? I'm not a doctor."
I walked away without looking back.
Just like how he walked away to find Elsa back then.
